Raspberry plant named ‘Shani’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Raspberry plant named ‘Shani’, characterized by its upright and somewhat bushy plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately high fruit production; fruits only produced on current season&#39;s canes; large light red purple-colored conical fruits; pleasant and sweet fruit taste; and good fruit postharvest longevity.

Botanical designation: Rubus idaeus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SHANI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofRaspberry plant, botanically known as Rubus idaeus and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Shani’.

The new Raspberry plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rossum, Gelderland, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program was to develop new Raspberry plantswith good fruit quality, productivity, uniformity and postproductionlongevity.

The new Raspberry plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor of a proprietary selection of Rubus idaeus identified as codenumber 210001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Rubusidaeus ‘Advaberimar’, disclosed in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 46,031 and U.S.Plant Pat. No. 23,916, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent in2011. The new Raspberry plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Rossum, Gelderland, TheNetherlands in early September, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Raspberry plant by root cuttings in acontrolled environment at Rossum, Gelderland, The Netherlands since thespring of 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Raspberryplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Raspberry have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Shani’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Shani’ as a new and distinct Raspberry plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat bushy plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Moderately high fruit production.    -   4. Fruits are only produced on current season's canes.    -   5. Large light red purple-colored conical fruits.    -   6. Pleasant and sweet fruit taste.    -   7. Good fruit postharvest longevity; fruits do not darken in        color after harvesting.

Plants of the new Raspberry differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Raspberry are more compact than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Raspberry develop fruit earlier than plants        of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Raspberry differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Advaberimar’, in fruit color as plants of the new Raspberryproduce lighter-colored fruits than plants of ‘Advaberimar’ selection.

Plants of the new Raspberry can be compared to plants of Rubus idaeus‘Advabertwee’, disclosed in U.S. Reissue Pat. no. 46,030 and U.S. PlantPat. No. 23,914. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newRaspberry differ from plants of ‘Advabertwee’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Raspberry are more compact than and not as        vigorous as plants of ‘Advabertwee’.    -   2. Plants of the new Raspberry flower and fruit earlier than        plants of ‘Advabertwee’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the appearance of thenew Raspberry plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Raspberry plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of typicalfruiting plants of ‘Shani’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical fruitsof ‘Shani’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the spring, summer and autumn in 10-litercontainers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Rossum, TheNetherlands and under typical cultural practices of Raspberry plantproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 17° C. and night temperatures averaged 11° C. Plants were oneyear old when the photograph and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rubus idaeus ‘Shani’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Rubus            idaeus identified as code number 21001, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Rubus idaeus ‘Advaberimar’,            disclosed in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 46,031 and U.S. Plant            Pat. No. 23,916.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By root cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 to 14 days at            temperatures about 15° C. to 17° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About six            weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to 17° C.        -   Root description.—Medium to thin in thickness, fibrous,            typically brownish white brown in color, actual color of the            roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and somewhat bushy plant            habit; relatively compact; moderately vigorous growth habit;            moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 1.6 to 1.8 meters.        -   Plant diameter.—About 40 cm.-   Cane description:    -   -   Current season's canes.—Length: About 150 cm. Internode            length: About 6 cm. Color: Close to 143C, no anthocyanin            observed. Time of vegetative bud burst: Early March in The            Netherlands. Length of vegetative bud: about 1 cm. Time of            cane emergence: March in the Netherlands.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Mostly erect.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; thorny.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 145B.        -   Color, dormant.—Close to 176D.        -   Thorns.—Density: About four to six per linear cm. Length:            About 2 mm. Width: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Shape: Roughly            deltoid. Apex: Acuminate, downwardly sloping. Base:            Truncate. Margin: Entire. Color, immature and mature: Close            to 183A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; compound with typically three to            five leaflets.        -   Length, leaf.—About 24 cm to 30 cm.        -   Width, leaf.—About 18 cm to 24 cm.        -   Length, terminal leaflet.—About 12 cm to 16 cm.        -   Width, terminal leaflet.—About 6 cm to 12 cm.        -   Length, lateral leaflets.—About 8 cm to 12 cm.        -   Width, lateral leaflets.—About 6 cm to 10 cm.        -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate; not overlapping.        -   Leaflet apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Leaflet base.—Cordate.        -   Leaflet margin.—Double serrate.        -   Leaflet profile. —Convex.        -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            rugose.        -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to            144A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 146B.            Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to 146A;            venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaflets, lower            surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C.        -   Petioles.—Length, leaf: About 6 cm to 7 cm. Diameter, leaf:            About 3 mm. Length, terminal leaflet: About 3 cm. Diameter,            terminal leaflet: About 3 mm. Length, lateral leaflets:            About 3 mm. Diameter, lateral leaflets: About 3 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely prickled. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 145C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Single star-shaped flowers            arranged in axillary sprays; freely flowering with about            three to six flowers per spray and about seven sprays per            lateral branch; flowers face mostly outwardly; flowers not            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—In The Netherlands, plants flower            in early July on current season's canes.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About 5            mm to 10 mm. Shape: Roughly deltoid with acuminate apex.            Color: Close to 141D.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals. Length:            About 9 mm to 10 mm. Width: About 4 mm to 5 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate to slightly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 155D. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 155D.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals forming a            star-shaped calyx. Calyx length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Calyx            width: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Length: About 2 cm. Width:            Proximally, about 1 cm; distally, about 2 mm. Shape:            Deltoid. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color: When developing,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. Fully opened, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 145B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm to 10 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° from vertical.            Texture: Prickled. Color: Close to 145A; no anthocyanin            observed.        -   Pedicels (Flowers and fruits).—Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30°            from peduncle axis. Texture: Prickled. Color: Close to 145B;            no anthocyanin observed.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 50            or more. Filament color: Close to 155D. Anther length: About            1 mm. Anther color: Close to 164C and 156C. Pollen color:            Close to 196C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About 80            to 100. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded.            Stigma color: Close to 155D. Style length: About 5 mm. Style            color: Close to 155D. Receptacles: Height: About 1 cm.            Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Conical. Color: Close to 155D.            Fruits (aggregate of drupelets): Quantity: One per flower.            Length of fruiting lateral: About 70 cm on current season's            canes. Fruiting lateral aspect: About 45° to 60° from            vertical on current season's canes. Number of drupelets per            fruit: About 90 to 110. Time of fruit ripening: In The            Netherlands, fruits ripen in mid augus on current season's            canes. Length of fruiting period: In the Netherlands, fruits            are produced for about 56 to 90 days. Length: About 2 cm to            2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm to 2.2 cm. Shape: Broadly            conical. Weight: About 6 to 7 grams. Firmness: Firm. Taste:            Pleasant, sweet. Luster: Glossy. Adherence of plug:            Moderately strong on current season's canes. Postharvest            longevity: Good postharvest longevity, fruits last up to            eleven days; fruits do not darken in color after harvest.            Color: Close to 61B and 63A. Seeds: Quantity: One per            drupelet. Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 20D.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Raspberry have been    noted to be resistant to Downy Mildew (Peronospora sparsa) and Red    Spider Mites (Tetranychus urticae).-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Raspberry have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from 4° C. to 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Raspberry plant named ‘Shani’ asillustrated and described.